HerRoyal Bano

A collection of my thoughts, spoken word pieces, vlogs, reviews and youth involvement. A little bit of (almost) everything that is me.
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Thursday, 13 July 2017

Some time ago I came across Daniel David Wallace in my attempt to write better. I found his work great so subscribed to receiving emails from him. This week he shared the write up below and I thought to share this with you all.

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If you are anything like me, you are very busy.

And it's natural, when one is very busy, to want to get more done in a day. That's why I often find myself reading books -- and listening to podcasts -- about productivity, about ways to become more efficient and focused.

After all, if you now produce, say, "100" units of effort every day, wouldn't it be amazing if you could, through some weird trick, produce "110" units of effort, or even "120"?

However, the trouble seems to be that "productivity," as people generally understand it, is basically nonsense. There is no secret, because there is nothing to discover.

Yes, I can easily imagine situations where help with "productivity" would genuinely help a person: if that person was struggling with poverty, or with depression, or with raising a child alone. In those situations, yes, I can imagine interventions that would boost a person's ability to do more creative, artistic, entreprenuerial work.

However, if you are a vaguely professional person, or a more or less functioning grad student -- a person with a relatively normal capacity to produce -- you are probably already at your limit.

--

In K. Anders Ericsson's seminal study, The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance, his team found that the "star" students of Berlin Music Academy practised the violin for basically the same number of hours each day as the "pretty good" students. There was no extra supply of practice hours that the stars had through their genius unlocked.

There was no augmented, leveled-up willpower that allowed the best musicians to stay in the practice room longer.

Similarly: Anthony Trollope is one of the most prolific novelists who ever lived. Over his life, in addition to working full-time at the Post Office, he wrote 47 novels (as well as several travel books, an artistic memoir, and collections of short stories). But despite this absurdly high output, Trollope stated very clearly that neither he, nor any other author in Victorian London, was able to write new fiction for more than a three-hour stretch each day. After this stretch of hard work, the creative mind was spent until the next morning.

--

So.

Let's just accept that this is true: you are already at your maximum.

I still have some advice for you, however.

From all my reading, it seems like the key to getting more done is to do fewer things overall.

It really seems that key to getting more done lies in what you do not do, not what you do.

The reason why you aren't producing as much as that annoyingly "productive" person in your field is that you are likely filling your day, and your mind, with stuff you shouldn't be doing.

Here, I mean work that you have decided youhave to do, seemingly important work that takes you away from your most crucial vocation.

I think that all of us creative people somehow accumulate a vast array of responsibilities and onerous side-projects. We may consider these tasks to be vital, even virtuous, but often, the people around us have no idea we are doing them.

Can you practise a little shamelessness for the next week or two? Try to see how many "important" aspects of your job you can simply not do, or do only when directly asked.

Try to see how many non-delightful social events you can simply skip. Don't be pompous about it: simply don't show up.

Of course, you shouldn't be reckless. If you try to back out of a work responsibility, and the rest of the office screams at you, well, don't persist.

But I think such moments will be rarer than you think. In past jobs, I have actually seen the very colleague who never did *that one allegedly crucial thing* actually get awards and commendations for their performance of that one thing.

Here's my other tip. Outside of your must-do responsibilities, I suggest you focus on one thing, and one thing alone, to make progress on.

Decide on that one thing. And then go one more step.

Now focus on one aspect of that one thing.

This rule is simply called: "one thing of one thing."

It's about setting singular objectives.

Because it's not enough to say, "I will finish my novel this year," or "I will become a professional blogger in fifteen months." Both those goals are potentially infinite.

You could go mad trying to write the perfect novel chapter, or the most ideally conversion-optimised blog post.

Ugh.

Instead, choose a goal, a focus, and then choose one singular standard or metric to guide you.

Rather set yourself a goal like "Write 1,000 words of my novel every day."

Trying to meet that one goal will clarify all your other life decisions.

"Build a professional blog by adding 12 new email subscribers every day." If you pick this goal, then everything else -- traffic numbers, likes and comments, the "respect" of your peers -- has to be essentially irrelevant. Just get those twelve each day.

It's only by settling on a clear, definite, singular target that you can get good feedback on your progress. The target tells you when to try something new, and when to stay on track.

It also tells you what not to worry about.

"Is my novel any good? Well, I don't know yet, but I'm writing 1,000 words of it every single day until this draft is over. Then I'll worry about quality."

If I come across other interesting work he shares with me I will share with you all :-)

Wednesday, 26 April 2017

Fiji Fashion Week 2016Resort Wear Show8 Sept 2016Vodafone ArenaSuvaFijiNowI am no fashion blogger but I love to watch the Fashion Show. As a consumer of the Fashion industry and a lover of creativity and art I too have my 2 cent when I watch the show. This post is not about individual designer breakdown, rather, it gives my 2cent on how youth are involved in the Fiji Fashion Week. I have been working with the photography team during this annual event and this year I thought to take a different approach. I must say I was impressed with the amount of Youth involved in putting the show together. The theme of the evening event was Resort Wear so naturally the colours showcased tonight were bright and fabrics seemed cool. Overall - I loved the show!1. 8 year old designerThe show feature Mariah Alone, 8 year who designed a swimwear line with the help from her mother and family. This, I must say is truly inspiring and a great example of Innovation, Support, Creativity and Opportunity. It is extremely important for parents to support their children so they can live out their dreams. 2. ModelsMajority of the models are youth and while some have full time jobs and walk the runway for hobby others are considering this a future career and some using this platform to boost their confidence, network and have a feel of the fashion industry. 3. VolunteersThe volunteers have been doing a lot of the behind the scene work and it can't be easy pulling together a Fashion show without the help of the volunteers. I spoke to some volunteers who have been at FjFW for a number of years now while it was a first time experience for some. Youth volunteerism is huge across the world and I am glad that our local youth get to learn a thing or two about fashion from Local as well International personals at this annual event. At this point I think I would like to highlight that The Fiji Fashion Week event engages numerous youth in this annual event. When we look at the Sustainable Development Goals and key points such as; Economic growth, Innovation, Employment, Education, International/Global partnership and Equal opportunities I think the fashion industry does tie into a lot of these. >The Fashion industry is thriving across the globe and it is contributing towards our Economic growth. >The various styles displayed showcased the innovation by various designers. >The fashion industry is a form of employment of many present at the event and others who contribute externally, example seamstress, graphic designers, printers and pattern makers. >The workshops conducted by FjFW and courses offered by FNU & APTC are contributing towards the fashion education needed by the designers and others in the industry. >International Designers and companies showcasing their produce at FjFW or coming here looking to partner with locals it shows a good link towards Global partnerships. >This annual opportunities is being utilized by local and International designers to showcase their work, generate interest and create discussion about what fashion means to us. And there is my brief take on tonight's show. It was a pleasure watching and chatting with the various people involved in the industry.

Tuesday, 21 February 2017

SEX – now
that I have your attention let’s talk about some Vocabulation.

It is now 2017 and there some
important vocabularies that we still discuss in the darkness of the night, with
whispers and code-words like if we said it out loud a nuclear explosion will
take place or the aliens will invade OR it will be the end of humanity as we
know it.

Tonight’s performance is brought to
you by letters:

V – for Vagina

M – for menstruation

P – for pads

Very basic words

Very everyday words

Very real words

Very soft spoken words

Very taboo words

Very hush hush – paint it with
unnecessary similes type of words

What is a V-jayjay? Why do we have
to call it ‘Down there?’ or her thing? Her private part?

A vagina is a vagina – say it like
it is.

Actually, say it with me – VAGINA.

We all know from Basic Science
class that girls go through their menstrual cycles every month. It is a natural
occurrence.

Thursday, 24 November 2016

So imagine my excitement when I was told that I am one of the four finalists in the Pacific Region for the Commonwealth Youth Worker award 2016 (theme: Sports and arts).

You know that feeling like you are on Cloud 9! Yes, that was me.

I love engaging in Creative Arts spaces and to be told that I am a finalist for just that was beyond what words can express.

I am extremely thankful for the love, support and guidance I have received through my loving family and friends. They have helped me get to where I am.

A huge vinaka vakalevu (thank you very much) for the nomination and while I didn't take home the PACIFIC region award I am sure as hell grateful to be listed as a finalist. To be able to call myself the Fiji representative and to be placed among the great youth workers in the Pacific.

We may be a dot on the map but we strive to excel and I hope this award encourages my fellow youth workers to continue doing their best!

About ACT (Advocacy through Creative Techniques):ACT is a creative arts youth group. We formed in 2014 and engage with youth to address social issues using creative arts. Our most recent project is to inform and educate communities about the SDG - Sustainable Development Goals. Until next blog...